How to write a resume for the fashion industry

1. Microsoft Word might be okay if you’re applying for a secretarial position.

But if you’re after a design job or something creative a PDF is a much better format, because it enables you to create good-looking documents that are completely cross-platform.

2. Art directors do not have the time or the inclination to read your entire life story.

Please immediately delete where you attended Primary School. The biggest tip I can offer is to cut the fat from your resumé and focus on the relevant details. Don’t be tempted to mask a lack of experience with verbosity. Clean, well-laid-out resumés will always win over long winded ones.

3. If you are looking to gain a creative role- the choice to not include any samples of your work with your resumé is pretty much guaranteeing that the recipient will not consider you for the post.

Stills from motion graphics projects are perfect, unless you’ve been specifically asked to include a showreel. On the other hand, don’t go overboard with images; that’s a job for your online portfolio.

Congratulations! So you’ve been called in for an interview.

You hear it all too often, “an interview is a two way street, show you are interested in the firm- ask a question” But let us be clear here, if you get sweaty palms, panic and ask a stupid question to fill the silence you may as well scrunch your resume up and throw it in the bin for them.

4. Ask intelligent questions in your interview.

Go beyond asking generic questions about the firm; preface your statement with something that you already know about them, for example “ I know that your team does XYZ, but does it also do ABC”. Interviewers are well aware of the difference between ‘filler’ questions found from a quick Google scan- and those that are legitimate. For example, I saw the ‘x’ campaign that you are working on, It was great to see that it was executed across so many mediums. Information of this can be found through a quick browse of AdNews, Mumbrella, or B&T.

If your interviewer is interested in chatting about the campaign and you are looking for a follow up question, Do NOT ask, “do you work with the client closely”- of course they do. A better follow up would be, how did this campaign resonate with the audience? Have you received any feedback?

5. Overall, some questions to avoid include…

Anything that indicates your interest in the perks, compensations or holidays.

Anything that indicates you have a long term exit strategy, “I think this is a great ‘first job’ in the media industry; I am actually not sure what I want to do, but I know this place will really help shape that direction”

Anything that suggests you are prematurely expecting a promotion, “So how long was the last Account Exec here before they were promoted?”

Do you want to read some resume advice from Zoe Foster Blake? CLICK HERE